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OB’s Woodson Leaves Crimson Tide

Sophomore defensive back Rod Woodson of Olive Branch, who helped lead the Alabama Crimson Tide to the national football championship as a freshman, has left the team, according to head coach Nick Saban.

“Rod Woodson will no longer be with the team,” Saban announced at the start of football practice. “We mutually agreed that it would be better for him to continue his career someplace else.

“He will transfer and have the opportunity to do that. We were very helpful in trying to get him an opportunity someplace else and we wish him very well. He did a good job for us.”

Woodson’s departure creates a void in the Tide secondary, but Saban said he and his staff are not concerned.
“We have young players who are going to have to develop and play,” the coach noted.  Everybody has a responsibility for their own self determination.  That's called accountability and dependability. 

“I don't care how many players we have, but we have a lot of good players on the team,” Saban added. “I would rather move somebody from another position to play where we don't have enough players than to allow somebody not to do the right things and be involved.  I don't think we do anyone any good if we do that."

Woodson, a 5-11, 199-pound defensive back, was ranked second in Mississippi and No. 21 nationally at his position following his senior season at Olive Branch High School. He was also rated the hardest-hitting safety in the country.

As a Conquistador, Woodson recorded 95 tackles during his senior season, with five sacks and three interceptions. As a junior in 2007, he made 148 tackles with three interceptions.

Woodson chose Alabama over Auburn, Michigan, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Florida State and Tennessee.